John McNeill
writes concerning the history and character of Calvinism with
thoroughness and balance. Some may question why a study of Calvin is
a worthwhile endeavor to which we let the author reply:

He [Calvin]
has been execrated and defamed, admired and extolled. His influence
has sometimes been jubilantly reported to have expired; but it has
survived the authors of the reports. He remains so famous that, as is
wont to happen with the great, persons ignorant of his life and work
pronounce judgment upon him with the utmost finality. But he will not
be thus easily dismissed (p. 93) . . . It is not easy to evaluate a
great personality who has been spiritedly attacked and defended
through four centuries. The fact that thousands of pens have been
busy about him is itself evidence that he is not to be casually
estimated. Some historians may prefer to ignore or belittle him, but
with a certain insistence this frail, earnest Frenchman comes back to
haunt their researches. At his own request, no stone marks his place
of burial, but little of him was really buried there. His fame
endures, and his influence will continue to defy time and oblivion.
(p. 227).

The book consists
of four major sections: 1) Huldrech Swingli and the Reformation in
German Switzerland; 2) Calvin and the Reformation in Geneva; 3) The
Spread of Reformed Protestantism in Europe and Early America; 4)
Calvinism and Modern Issues. I found the first two of the sections to
be of the greatest value and interest. Although the latter two
sections contain important information, they attempt to cover so much
ground that the list of names, movements, and counter-movements begin
to blur since there is insufficient space to go into any of them with
much depth.

If you are
looking for significant treatment of the development and interaction
of Lutheran and Reformed doctrines during the Reformation, you will
not find it here—the contribution of Luther and Lutheranism to
the development of Calvinism is not a focus for the author.

Calvin's
strengths and weaknesses seem to be fairly evaluated, and some
misconceptions concerning what he taught (e.g., concerning physical
prosperity) are dispelled. One comes away with a much greater
appreciation for the man and the historical context in which he
ministered—not to mention the positive influence of his
teachings upon both church and state. Many of the ideals that we
consider to be the bedrock of western democracy (e.g., the equality
of all men and right to self-govern) developed out of the incubator
of Calvinism as it came to be practiced in France, Scotland,
England, and what came to be the United States.

At points, the
author's treatment of his subject matter seems to favor liberalism.
He is overly positive in his treatment of the gains of ecumenical
movements within Calvinism while making light of the glossing over of
significant doctrinal differences which were often papered over in
the process. He also follows in the footsteps of some modern
Christian writers who see the imposition of capital punishment for
witchcraft by earlier God-fearing societies as a mark of their lack
of civility. By the same measure, we would have to condemn the
practices of the theocracy of Israel under the Mosaic law (Ex. 22:18;
Lev. 20:27; Eze. 13:18-23)--the very law which Scripture holds to be
“perfect” (Ps. 19:7), “holy, just and good”
(Rom. 7:12). The author's problem is not with Calvin's Geneva or the
early American Puritans, but with Covenant Theology and its failure
to recognize important distinctions between Israel (which was given
the law) and the Church (which is not under the law). The Biblical
reason we don't impose capital punishment for witchcraft today
has less to do with civility and more to do with progressive
revelation and distinctions among the peoples of God. But these are
minor criticism concerning what is an otherwise excellent
introduction and treatment of Calvin and the movement which came to
be identified with his name.

All believers owe
it to themselves to learn about this important period in church
history and the personalities God used, such as Calvin, in bringing
the church to where it is today.